Oral history and documentary. at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony XDCAM EX Pro Handhelds

Sony XDCAM EX Pro Handhelds
Sony PXW-Z280, Z190, X180 etc. (going back to EX3 & EX1) recording to SxS flash memory.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old May 10th, 2016, 09:28 AM   #1
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA.
Posts: 4,476
Oral history and documentary.

This is a double post I hope Chris will permit me an indulgence with as I want to test both camps as to cameras.

I have this question from an award-winning documentary film maker ( used film ) who has been out of the game for some years.

"Do you think I can stick with the sony pmw200-sony-xdcam-hd-50mbps-422-camcorder we have, or upgrade to 4k like the LUMIX Digital Single Lens Mirrorless Camera DMC-GX8? Is the gx8 broadcast quality? Are there good reasons to go 4k for broadcast or post or even blow up?"

Any opinions will be much appreciated.
Bob Hart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 10th, 2016, 11:41 PM   #2
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada
Posts: 3,053
Re: Oral history and documentary.

There's a 30min limit to recordings on the GX8. Really bad for talking head interviews of indeterminate length. Also has no XLR inputs.

Stick to the PMW-200. Downgrading to a consumer camera just for 4K is a very bad move. The cooling on consumer cameras also won't hold up to long interviews too.

There currently really isn't a camera in the 4K space that balances storage requirements and quality for long form interviews at this point. Wait till Sony unveils XAVC-L 10bit 4:2:2 4K format cameras that actually record to that specific format in 4K and not XAVC-L 8bit 4:2:0 in 4K. (XAVC-I 4K is still a space hog for longform video)
Jack Zhang is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 11th, 2016, 10:33 AM   #3
Vortex Media
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,409
Re: Oral history and documentary.

Do you really need 4K for oral history interviews? If not, I'd highly recommend the FS100 and a fast 85mm prime lens. Great image quality, nice cinematic shallow DoF, a good viewfinder, XLR inputs for audio, and the cameras are really inexpensive now.

I just setup a client with this camera for doing long-form oral history interviews and they are loving it and getting some really nice results --- much better looking than anything that could be done with a 1/2" PMW-200.

I wouldn't want to use the FS100 for run & gun or other types of shooting, but for sit-down interviews it is perfect solution . . . if you don't need 4K. If you do need 4K, then look at something like the FS5 or FS7 with a nice fast prime lens.
__________________
Vortex Media http://www.vortexmedia.com/
Sony FS7, F55, and XDCAM training videos, field guides, and other production tools
Doug Jensen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old May 12th, 2016, 11:37 PM   #4
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA.
Posts: 4,476
Re: Oral history and documentary.

Jack and Doug.


Thank you for your responses. I have passed them on. The project as I understand it is to be a follow-up to this one which premiered in 1993.

Exile and The Kingdom Part 1 | IsumaTV

Exile and The Kingdom Part 2 | IsumaTV
Bob Hart is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > Sony XAVC / XDCAM / NXCAM / AVCHD / HDV / DV Camera Systems > Sony XDCAM EX Pro Handhelds

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:35 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network